Detachable vane assembly for contact column



Patented Aug. 18, 1953 UNITED STATLEfi NT OFFICE DETACHABLE VANE ASSENLBLY FOR CONTACT COLUMN The present invention relates generally to fractionating columns or the like, but more particu larly to a novel and improved device which will more effectively cause a more intimate interaction between the descending liquids and the rising vapors or gases so as to set up in effect a dense centrifugal revolving cleansing liquid spray which will contribute to the eincient operation of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of vertically spaced apart detachable or removable unit or spirally arranged vane assemblies which can be individually removed for the purpose of cleaning or repair.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel vane unit or assembly in which the inner ends of the individual vanes are secured to a centrally disposed top circular disc and the lower outer edges of the vanes secured to an annular ring for rigidly securing the vanes toether.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fractionating column in which the vane assemblies are suspended from annular collars by displaceable hangers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved fractionating column or the like in which a plurality of vane assemblies are supported in vertical axial alignment in spaced apart relation with respect to one another and at the same time are held spaced from the cylindrical wall of the casing.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and an arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my' fractionating column or the like embodying the improvements of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing the manner in which the removable vane units or assemblies are detachably supported within the casing; I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the blades of the vane assembly; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed view showing the manner of supporting and detachably locking the vane assemblies in position.

In illustrating one embodiment my invention may assume in practice, I have shown the same as comprising a cylindrical casing or column, generally indicated by the reference character it}. The upper end of the casingis closed by a removable cover i2. Projecting laterally from the casing It is an air or gas outlet I4 which is positioned adjacent the upper end thereof. The lower end of the casing is connected to a funnel= like connection it which, in turn, is connected to a liquid discharge conduit [8. Extending tangentially with respect to the cylindrical casing 53 at a point adjacent the funnel i6 is an air or gas inlet 26.

One of the important features of the present invention involves the construction and detachability, as Well as the positioning of a plurality of vane assemblies or units which more effectively secures intimate interaction and commingling be tween the descending liquid and the rising vapors or gases. These removable vane assemblies 01' units are generally indicated by the reference character 22, any number of which may be employed. These vane assembly units comprise a top disc 24 of relatively small diameter to which is secured the inner ends of a plurality of spirally arranged and substantially radially disposed blades or vanes 25. These individual blades are provided with steeply inclined surfaces 23 which lie in a position of approximately sixty to seventy degrees to a horizontal plane. Adjoining the surfaces 28 are gradually inclined surfaces 30 which are inclined to a horizontal plane at approximately twenty to twenty-five degrees. These surfaces are jointed together at a diagonalintersecting line 32 and form in effect the fluid deflecting surfaces for setting up a centrifugaland circuitous dispersion of the liquid in its downwardly flowing movement during the rais ing of the vapors and gases. Secured to the lower outer ends of each of the blades or vanes 23 ad; jacent the periphery thereof is an annular flat ring or washer t l which not only performs the function of reinforcing and strengthening the detachable vane assembly or unit, but also performs a very essential function of securing a" greater dispersion of the downwardly traveling liquid and also a more intimate interaction and commingling of the vapors and gases with the downwardly moving liquid. The ring or washer 34 is inclined inwardly and downwardly towards" the center of the column as clearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and discharges some of the liquid towards the center thereof while the upwardly flowing vapors or'gases pass upward-1ythrough the opening in the ring and deflects or sprays some of the liquid beyond the outer pe ripheiy of the ring against the inner wall of the casing.

Secured in the axial center of each of the vane assemblies or units and preferably to the circular discs 24 is an eye 36 which is used for the purpose of inserting a rod with a hook on the end thereof for engagement with it for removing the units or Vane assemblies in the manner hereinafter more fully described. Located in axially spaced relation with respect to one another are a plurality of annular collars 38 whose outer diameter snugly fit within the confines of the cylindrical casing It so as to provide a vapor tight joint. These collars or rings are inclined downwardly towards the axis of the column for the purpose more fully hereinafter disclosed.

The vane assembly or units 22 are detachably supported from each of the adjacent collars 38 by three equally spaced apart hangers 4d. The upper ends of each of the hangers 49 are provided with angularly disposed threaded apertured ears 42 through which a machine screw 44 secures the hanger to the collar 38. lhe lower end of each of the hangers is provided with an inwardly and angularly disposed projection 25 which is adapted to engage the lower edge of the ring 34 for supporting the vane assembly or unit there on. Formed integrally with each of the hangers 40 is an inwardly projecting lug Q8. The lug =28 is spaced upwardly from the projection 46 so as to form a recess 59 for the reception of the outer edge of the ring 34 to thereby lock the ring and the vane assembly or unit in position on the hangers.

In order to remove the top one of the units 22, the machine screw 44 is loosened and one of the hangers is revolved through an angular magnitude of ninety degrees about the axis of the screw, thereby releasing the ring from one of the hangers and by merely shifting the unit 22 laterally from the recesses of the other two hangers, the hook rod placed into the eye 36 may readily lift the unit from the column for the purpose of cleaning, repairing or replacing the individual unit.

Positioned above the topmost unit 22 is a liquid supply pipe 52 which extends through the cylindrical casing and is provided on the inner ends with a right angle elbow 54 for discharging the liquid onto the disc 24 of the topmost vane assembly 22.

In the operation of the device, the upwardly moving vapors or gases traverse the tubular column in a spiral, rotating and circuitous movement caused by the spirally arranged vane 28, the annular collars 38 and rings 34. These vapors and gases, as a result or these vane formations, move outwardly towards the periphery of the vane assemblies and are further dispersed by the annular ring 3 3, some of which are discharged into the annular space surrounding the periphery of the vane assemblies and the inner wall of the column. The descending liquid discharged upon the first disc 24 is dispersed in the form of a spray by the spirally arranged vanes of the assembly unit and by the centrifugal action of the descending spray, further agitation and dispersion takes place when portions of this liquid strike the annular ring 34 and discharge a portion of the liquid into the annular space between the cylindrical wall and the periphery of the vane assemblies. From this point a portion of the liquid is deflected inwardly by the next succeeding collar 38 so as to thereby develop a more intimate interaction and commingling between the descending liquids and the rising vapor of gases and thereby contributes to more eflicient operation of the device.

From the above description it will be obvious that the annular rings 34 secured to the lower outer edges of the vane assemblies perform the double function of not only securing a greater dispersion of the downwardly flowing liquid, but also serves to rigidly secure the vanes together so as to prevent their displacement both in the operation of the device and in the removal of the units for cleaning or repair.

It will be further understood that by providing means for detachably securing the vane assemblies or units and suspending them from the spaced apart annular collars 33, these units may be readily removed for cleaning or repair. It will be noted that by providing the locking lugs 38 on each of the hangers iil, these vane assemblies may be locked in position for shipment of the device as a whole.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course, be understood that the same is capable of modification and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fractionating column or the like comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of detachable vane assemblies each of which includes a centrally disposed disc and plurality of spirally arranged vanes secured to said disc, each of said vanes overlapping horizontally the next adjacent vane, a ring secured to the lower portion of and adjacent the outer ends of said vanes, said vane assemblies being axially aligned with respect to one another and spaced from the cylindrical wall of said casing, annular collars secured to the inner wall of said casing, and means for suspending each of said vane assemblies from the adjacent collar.

2. A fractionating column or the like as defined in claim 1 in which means are provided for detachably securing said assemblies to said collars.

3. A fractionating column or the like comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of removable vane assemblies, each of which includes a plurality of spirally arranged vanes having each vane overlapping horizontally the next adjacent vane, said vane assemblies being axially aligned with respect to one another and spaced from the cylindrical wall of said casing, annular collars secured to the inner wall of said casing, circular rings secured to the lower portion of said vanes, and displaceable means for suspending each of said vane assemblies from the adjacent collar.

4. A fractionating column or the like comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of removable vane assemblies, each of which includes a plurality of spirally arranged vanes having each vane overlapping the next adjacent vane, a disc secured to the upper inner ends of said vanes, and a ring secured to the lower ends of said vanes, said vane assemblies being axially aligned with respect to one another and spaced from the cylindrical wall of said casing, an annular collar secured to the inner wall of said casing above each of said discs, respectively, and swingable means for suspending each of said vane assemblies from the adjacent collar.

5. A fractionating column or the like comprising a cylindrical casing, a plurality of removable vane assemblies, each of which includes a plurality of spirally arranged vanes having each vane overlapping horizontally the next adjacent vane, a disc secured to the upper inner ends of said vanes, and a ring secured to the lower outer ends of said vanes, said vane assemblies being axially aligned with respect to one another and spaced from the cylindrical wall of said casing, an annular collar secured to the inner wall of said casing above each of said rings, and de pending hangers for suspending each of said vane assemblies from the adjacent collar.

6. A iractionating device comprising a cylindrical casing having vertically spaced apart annular collars secured to the inner wall of said casing, detachable vane assemblies or units suspended from said collars, each of said vane assemblies including a plurality of dihedral vane members radially disposed from the center of the casing and havin outer ends spaced from the inner cylindrical wall of said casing, and means for suspending each of said vane assemblies below and from its adjacent collar.

7. A fractionating device comprising a cylindrical casing having vertically spaced apart annular collars secured to the inner wall of said casing, detachable vane assemblies or units suspended from and wholly below said collars, each of said vane assemblies including a plurality of dihedral vane members radially disposed from the center of the casing and having outer ends a spaced from the inner cylindrical Wall of said casing, means for suspending each of said vane assemblies from its adjacent collar, and means carried by said first named means for preventing the displacement of said vane assemblies from said casing.

8. A fractionating device comprising a cylindrical casing having vertically spaced apart annular collars secured to the inner wall of said casing, detachable vane assemblies or units suspended from and located wholly below said collars, each of said vane assemblies including a plurality of dihedral vane members radially disposed from the center of the casing and having outer ends spaced from the inner cylindrical wall of said casing, and equally spaced apart hangers secured to said collars and detachably connected to said vane assemblies for supporting said assemblies in position.

BEN BARTOLUCCI.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,366,956 Schneible Feb. 1, 1921 1,896,894 Hawley Feb. 7, 1933 2,392,705 Smith et a1. Jan. 8, 1946 2,509,172 Schreier et a1 May 23, 1950 

